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Three Keystone brothers achieve rank of Eagle Scout

By Bruce Hope Staff Writer
Posted 1/22/20

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Brothers Jack, 16, Luke ,16, and Mark, 15, Lewandowski are unique. Not only are all three Boy Scouts in an era when scouting is a less popular past-time than has been in the …

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Three Keystone brothers achieve rank of Eagle Scout


Posted

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Brothers Jack, 16, Luke ,16, and Mark, 15, Lewandowski are unique. Not only are all three Boy Scouts in an era when scouting is a less popular past-time than has been in the past, but all three have achieved the coveted Eagle Scout rank, the highest award by the Boy Scouts of America.

Members of Scout Troop 290 in Keystone Heights, older brothers Jack and Luke met the Eagle Scout board of review in October of 2019. Younger brother Mark was slightly ahead, meeting with his review board in August.

“They started [in Scouts] at 5,” said their mother, Dena Lewandowski. “They crossed over into Boy Scouts when they were 10. It’s matured them all. It’s been proven time and time again that if you work hard enough and stick with something, then you will be successful. They faced a lot of fears and did a lot of things they would never have done. I think it made them stronger as individuals.”

“My chest is about to explode. I’m so proud of my three boys and their accomplishment,” said their father, U.S. Air Force Col. (Ret.) Daniel Lewandowski. “They worked hard; there were times when they didn’t want to do it and they still did it. It was really fun to be part of their journey and help them along and see them do so much.”

All three brothers are excellent students, maintaining GPAs higher than 4.0 and are involved in sports – volleyball, soccer and golf.

All three had to complete a project and demonstrate leadership to attain the Eagle Scout rank as well as having earned at least 11 other merit badges.

Luke and Mark both worked to coordinate the building of bleachers for their high school soccer field.

Jack’s project was to build a gaga pit. A gaga pit is a large area where students can play dodgeball but on the ground. The ball is only thrown below the knees.

“My Eagle Scout project, I had to lead a bunch of people. I had to tell them how to build something, how to use stuff,” said Jack. “We had to design a pit that was big enough, but not too big.” The project was a success. Jack’s future goals are to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology and study engineering or quantum mechanics.

“Being a scout teaches you things you don’t normally learn in school,” said Mark, who plans to follow his father’s footsteps into the Air Force. He hopes to one day study aerospace engineering. “It [the Boy Scouts] lets you have special memories which you normally wouldn’t gain. Overall, I think it’s just an amazing experience. I think the most valuable skill I’ve learned is probably first aid.”

Only about 5% of all Boy Scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout. To see three in the same family is as special as it gets.